GUWAHATI, Aug 22 - Over 340 unauthorised vendors were apprehended during a just-concluded three-week-long inspection drive of catering units launched by Maligaon-headquartered Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
The drive was conducted across the zone jointly by officials from commercial, medical, mechanical and electrical departments of NFR. Railway magistrates, along with RPF and GRP personnel, also participated in the drive.
�During the period, 27 pairs of trains having pantry car services were checked. Seven base kitchens were inspected and three of them, located at Katihar, New Coochbehar and Dibrugarh, were upgraded, while one at Guwahati was closed down due to poor infrastructure. In addition, 28 refreshment rooms were checked and inspected and the deficiencies in them addressed,� said an official.
Besides, four food plazas, two food courts, three �Jan Aahar� units and eight milk parlours were also inspected.
�Altogether 342 unauthorised vendors were apprehended and of them 207 were sent to judicial custody,� said the official.
Fines worth over Rs 10 lakh were realised from vendors and units that were found to have flouted norms.
�Catering services of trains like Janshatabdi and Purvottor Sampark Kranti Express will be handed over shortly to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Divisions have been instructed to ensure cleanliness, sanitisation and rectification of any electrical or mechanical deficiencies in pantry cars. Field units have been instructed to continuously monitor catering service in real time basis,� said the official.
